Nick Page has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), starting July 7. He was chosen only months before the agency would undergo a complete shift in leadership. It is preparing to evolve into an independent agency called Qualifications Scotland this coming December.
Prior to this Page was the chief executive of Solihull Council. He was put under the heaviest scrutiny after the ghastly murder of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes at the hands of his stepmother, Emma Tustin, in June 2020. His time at Solihull came under fire when an Ofsted inspection uncovered systemic failings in the council’s safeguarding of vulnerable children. Yet these findings were what ultimately led to his resignation.
Shirley Rogers, Chairwoman of the SQA, directed the controversial recruiting process that resulted in Page’s appointment. She released a statement on the vote, saying she was pleased with the decision. The board’s due diligence was extremely deep, and they felt, unanimously, that Page was the best fit, as did the staff panel that interviewed every finalist.
“The SQA board carried out full due diligence and was unanimous in its selection. Nick was also the unanimous choice of the SQA staff panel which interviewed all candidates.” – SQA spokesperson
In Page’s new position, he will have oversight of the SQA. He will further lead the creation of Qualifications Scotland, a program that works to change the education assessment landscape in Scotland from standardized testing. He was extremely candid about being serious about taking the RUS in new, positive directions.
“SQA is already transforming at pace to build strong foundations for Qualifications Scotland, harnessing the deep knowledge, skills and commitment of our people.” – Nick Page
The choice to appoint Page has raised important questions about accountability in leadership and the impact of his prior experience. Critics draw attention to the extremely controversial nature of his departure from Solihull Council. A National Audit Office report from the beginning of this year found that children were experiencing “serious harm” and being “poorly served” by the system.
In response to concerns regarding his past, a spokesperson for SQA noted that Page made a “principled decision to allow fresh leadership to take improvements forward” in Solihull. His experience could inform his philosophy as he steps into his first major administrative role. In this role, we hope that he focuses on changing the rules of the education game to improve educational opportunities and outcomes.
“We will accelerate that work to deliver a future that improves outcomes and supports learning and teaching.” – Nick Page
Fiona Robertson, who announced her resignation as chief executive of SQA in February, preceded Page’s appointment. As he prepares to take on this significant role, stakeholders will be closely monitoring Page’s actions and their impact on educational standards across Scotland.
